John Locher / AP
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on during a WNBA game against the Dallas Wings Sunday, June 5, 2022, in Las Vegas.
Sunday, June 4, 2023 | 7:48 p.m. | Sunday, June 4, 2023 | 7:48 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS — A’ja Wilson scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Candace Parker made two free throws with 24 seconds left and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 84-80 Sunday to extend its franchise record for consecutive wins to open a season.
The Aces (6-0), who trailed by 10 points after Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, closed the game on a 23-9 run.
Las Vegas used an 11-1 run capped by a Chelsea Gray’s three-point play that made it 72-all with 4:03 to play. Erica Wheeler answered with a layup and her 3 with 2:32 remaining gave the Fever a five-point lead but after Kelsey Plum scored inside for the Aces, Jackie Young made back-to-back layups to make it 80-79.
Aliyah Boston tied it by making the second of two free throws for Indiana with 47.1 to go, but Parker’s foul shots put the Aces in front.
Mitchell missed a layup with 15 seconds left and Las Vegas dribbled the clock down until Alysha Clark was fouled with 1.7 seconds left and hit two free throws to seal the game.
Mitchell led Indiana (1-4) with 22 points, hitting five of six 3-point attempts. Wheeler added 15. Boston got into foul trouble and had just seven points and four rebounds in her first matchup against Wilson — pitting the two former Gamecocks who were No. 1 picks.
Young scored 18 points and Gray added 17 with eight rebounds and seven assists for Las Vegas.
The Aces had their WNBA record for consecutive games scoring at least 90 points stopped at five games.
